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The Music Room => Classical Music for Beginners => Topic started by: CK on August 17, 2007, 07:58:41 AM

Title: how to pronounce...
Post by: CK on August 17, 2007, 07:58:41 AM
saint-saens and Mahler ?  Thnx
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: George on August 17, 2007, 08:00:33 AM
The h in Mahler is silent.

Two syllables:

Ma (like mother) - ler (like ler in Butler)  :)
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: CK on August 17, 2007, 08:11:28 AM
thnx.

also forgot about haydn.  is it Hay-den or Hi-den?
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: quintett op.57 on August 17, 2007, 08:13:23 AM
Saint-Saëns :

hard to explain, no other european language use the first vowel sound (ain) , I think.
The second vowel sound (aën) also exists in polish and portuguese, but not in english.
Both sounds come from the nose.

Don't pronounce the "t"
But pronounce every "s"


Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: andy on August 17, 2007, 08:14:43 AM
This link will tell you almost all you need about pronunciation of composer's names
http://www.pronunciationguide.org/ (http://www.pronunciationguide.org/)
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: quintett op.57 on August 17, 2007, 08:29:43 AM
Quote from: andy on August 17, 2007, 08:14:43 AM
This link will tell you almost all you need about pronunciation of composer's names
http://www.pronunciationguide.org/ (http://www.pronunciationguide.org/)
not really, they give the example of Messiaen.
Messiaen's "aen" has to be pronounced the same way than Saint-Saëns' "ain" actually (to be honest, I'm not sure, everyone does not pronounce it the same way).
Saint-Saëns' "aën" is usually written "an" or "en".

Interesting link anyway.
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: andy on August 17, 2007, 08:40:50 AM
Quote from: quintett op.57 on August 17, 2007, 08:29:43 AM
not really, they give the example of Messiaen.
Messiaen's "aen" has to be pronounced the same way than Saint-Saëns' "ain" actually (to be honest, I'm not sure, everyone does not pronounce it the same way).
Saint-Saëns' "aën" is usually written "an" or "en".

Interesting link anyway.

True enough... I guess I should rephrase my statement to say, enough to not look like an idiot when pronouncing composer's names in public :)
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: orbital on August 17, 2007, 09:04:04 AM
Quote from: George on August 17, 2007, 08:00:33 AM
The h in Mahler is silent.

Two syllables:

Ma (like mother) - ler (like ler in Butler)  :)
I did not know that. I thought "H" was pronounced. And the second syllable pronounced as in "[La] Mer"
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: George on August 17, 2007, 10:57:44 AM
Quote from: orbital on August 17, 2007, 09:04:04 AM
I did not know that. I thought "H" was pronounced. And the second syllable pronounced as in "[La] Mer"

That's not my understanding.  :-\
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: The Emperor on August 17, 2007, 11:25:39 AM
Quote from: quintett op.57 on August 17, 2007, 08:13:23 AM
Saint-Saëns :

hard to explain, no other european language use the first vowel sound (ain) , I think.
The second vowel sound (aën) also exists in polish and portuguese, but not in english.
Both sounds come from the nose.

Don't pronounce the "t"
But pronounce every "s"




The sound of (aën) i could agree we use, like in my name João, but we don't have the "ä" in our languange. just the "ã" and only with the "a", no other letter.

Talking about Portuguese of course, a bit of topic but...
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: rappy on August 17, 2007, 11:48:47 AM
In case of Mahler and Haydn:

Haydn = Hi - den (stress on Hi)

Mahler = Ma (a long "Ma" like the ma in "mark" (but without the r!) ) - ler (speak "fair" and replace the f with an l)

The h in Mahler means that the a must be long.

That was the wisdom of a native German ;-)
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: jochanaan on August 18, 2007, 07:21:33 PM
The two nasal sounds in Saint-Saëns' name are rather difficult for non-French-speakers to master.  Lift the back of your tongue like you were doing an "ng" sound, but don't quite close it.  For "Saint" you should have a vowel sound that's close to the "an" of "and," while for Saëns the vowel is close to the English "on."  I believe that, properly, the final S is NOT pronounced.

Ogden Nash was apparently frustrated enough with this name's pronunciation to write,
"Camille Saint-Saëns was racked with pains
When people addressed him as Saint Sains.
He held the human race to blame
Because it could not pronounce his name." ;D --from the verses for Carnival of the Animals
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: Szykneij on August 19, 2007, 05:32:02 AM
Quote from: andy on August 17, 2007, 08:14:43 AM
This link will tell you almost all you need about pronunciation of composer's names
http://www.pronunciationguide.org/ (http://www.pronunciationguide.org/)

Great link, Andy!
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: JoshLilly on August 20, 2007, 05:45:35 AM
Maybe of interest, native speakers pronouncing:

Bedřich Smetana - http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/ba/Cs-Bedrich_Smetana.ogg
Dmitri Shostakovich - http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/10/Ru-Dmitri_Dmitrievich_Shostakovich.ogg
Antonín Dvořák - http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d1/Cs-Antonin_Dvorak.ogg
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: Larry Rinkel on August 20, 2007, 05:51:04 AM
Quote from: rappy on August 17, 2007, 11:48:47 AM
In case of Mahler and Haydn:

Haydn = Hi - den (stress on Hi)

Mahler = Ma (a long "Ma" like the ma in "mark" (but without the r!) ) - ler (speak "fair" and replace the f with an l)

The h in Mahler means that the a must be long.

That was the wisdom of a native German ;-)

Rappy, if Mahler had been a painter, how would you pronounce Mahler der Maler?
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: Scriptavolant on August 20, 2007, 06:04:10 AM
Same thing here. Russian native speaker pronounces some name (click on the image):

http://digilander.libero.it/alebeat/Compositorirussi.htm
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: rappy on August 20, 2007, 06:17:13 AM
Quote from: Larry Rinkel on August 20, 2007, 05:51:04 AM
Rappy, if Mahler had been a painter, how would you pronounce Mahler der Maler?

In German it would actually be the same. Since there's only one L after the a, the a is long anyway.
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: Mahlered on August 20, 2007, 07:48:47 AM
Quote from: Larry Rinkel on August 20, 2007, 05:51:04 AM
Rappy, if Mahler had been a painter, how would you pronounce Mahler der Maler?

Quote from: rappy on August 20, 2007, 06:17:13 AM
In German it would actually be the same. Since there's only one L after the a, the a is long anyway.

I was honestly very confused the first time I heard someone say "Hindemith's Mathis der Maler Symphony."
Mind you, this was before I knew much about either Hindemith OR Mahler! And certainly before I studied any German.
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: Kullervo on August 20, 2007, 08:05:43 AM
How do you pronounce Leoš Janáček? and Mieczysław Weinberg?
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: quintett op.57 on August 20, 2007, 08:53:25 AM
leh osh Yanachek

M yeah chuh swav vineberg
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: Kullervo on August 20, 2007, 08:55:34 AM
Quote from: quintett op.57 on August 20, 2007, 08:53:25 AM
leosh Yanachek

M yeah chuh swav vineberg

Shanksh choo very musch.
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: greg on August 20, 2007, 09:06:45 AM
Quote from: quintett op.57 on August 20, 2007, 08:53:25 AM
chuh
i thought the y is pronounced more like the i in "igloo" instead of "uh"...
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: RebLem on August 20, 2007, 05:42:04 PM
MOLL er.

SAN sawn, except that it isn't spoken with an emphasis on the SAN; its more like a sing song. with the SAN in a high tone, and the sawn a tone or two lower.

Usually, people want to know how to pronounce Dvorak, too, so her goes:

duh VOR jacques.
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: Holden on August 20, 2007, 06:05:14 PM
Quote from: Larry Rinkel on August 20, 2007, 05:51:04 AM
Rappy, if Mahler had been a painter, how would you pronounce Mahler der Maler?

And if Sviatoslav Richter had been a poet you could have had Richter die Dichter. Richter was, however, a painter
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: btpaul674 on August 20, 2007, 06:22:21 PM
Can someone help me how to be clear with the "Joly" in 'Joly Braga Santos'?
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: Scriptavolant on August 20, 2007, 07:00:45 PM
Quote from: Holden on August 20, 2007, 06:05:14 PM
And if Sviatoslav Richter had been a poet you could have had Richter die Dichter. Richter was, however, a painter

And what if he had been a judge AND a poet?

Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: Mahlered on August 20, 2007, 08:24:31 PM
Quote from: Holden on August 20, 2007, 06:05:14 PM
And if Sviatoslav Richter had been a poet you could have had Richter die Dichter.

Charles Richter, as in the seismologist who came up with the scale, wrote poems too. So we are not without a Richter der Dichter!
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: Greta on August 21, 2007, 02:20:25 AM
When I was first collecting I had a big problem with not composer names, but conductors! :o Still do often.

Tricky ones: papa and son Kleiber are pronounced Kligh-ber, the conductors Järvi are Yair-vee (as in "hair"). And Vänska is Ven-skuh.

Another, Marek Jankowski is Yan-kov-ski. ;)

Christoph von Dohnányi is another tough one. I have heard it in this way, which seems right, as, Doh-yan-ni (with a long O). Except more actually like "Doak" with a really soft "k" and put a small bit of an "n" sound before the "yanni".

Some good ones I used to mess up:

Riccardo Chailly: Shy-ee
Yoel Levi: Lev-ee (not like Levi's jeans, LOL, yes, I was guilty)
Charles Dutoit: Doo-twa

Question: is Pierre Boulez, acceptable as either: Boo-lez or Boo-lay?
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: Wendell_E on August 21, 2007, 03:10:28 AM
Quote from: Greta on August 21, 2007, 02:20:25 AM
Question: is Pierre Boulez, acceptable as either: Boo-lez or Boo-lay?

No.  The 'z' isn't silent.
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: Kullervo on August 21, 2007, 06:24:02 AM
Quote from: Greta on August 21, 2007, 02:20:25 AM
And Vänska is Ven-skuh.

I thought the Finnish 'Ä' was a sound similar to the 'A' in "cat".
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: greg on August 21, 2007, 06:43:32 AM
Quote from: Greta on August 21, 2007, 02:20:25 AM
Question: is Pierre Boulez, acceptable as either: Boo-lez or Boo-lay?
as i posted in the lyrics thread, i thought it was "Boo-lay" until I heard some guy say "Boulez" in the recording of the Berio Sinfonia.
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: Larry Rinkel on August 21, 2007, 08:39:44 AM
Quote from: Holden on August 20, 2007, 06:05:14 PM
And if Sviatoslav Richter had been a poet you could have had Richter die Dichter. Richter was, however, a painter

Richter der Dichter.
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: Larry Rinkel on August 21, 2007, 08:45:49 AM
Quote from: Wendell_E on August 21, 2007, 03:10:28 AM
No.  The 'z' isn't silent.

Likewise: Berlioz. Interestingly, both composers were born in the same general region of southeast France.
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: Manon on August 21, 2007, 08:51:00 AM
If anyone wants to know about Turkish words (Turkish singers, composers, musicians, operas etc.), you can ask me  ;)
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: Drasko on August 22, 2007, 12:20:47 AM
Vänskä

http://www.sci.fi/~kajun/finns/Samples/vanska.wav



The whole list of Finnish surnames:

http://www.sci.fi/~kajun/finns/alllast.htm#8
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: Greta on August 22, 2007, 06:36:17 PM
Thanks for that page! The Finnish names can be really confusing.

Here is the page with musicians:

http://www.sci.fi/~kajun/finns/6.htm

Interesting, the clip there pronounces Saraste exactly as I did at first, Sah-RAH-stay, but I had thought that was wrong because accents are usually on the first syllable so I had changed to SAH-rahs-tuh.

And here is a clip from Minnesota Orchestra of how to pronounce Vänska:

http://mnorch.com/windowsmedia_high/3.osmo.wmv
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: quintett op.57 on August 23, 2007, 07:52:59 AM
Quote from: Wendell_E on August 21, 2007, 03:10:28 AM
No.  The 'z' isn't silent.
it should be silent but even the french pronounce it mistakely.
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: Norseman on August 23, 2007, 10:03:21 AM
Quote from: rappy on August 17, 2007, 11:48:47 AM
Haydn = Hi - den (stress on Hi)

That was the wisdom of a native German ;-)

So do you guys actually say 'dEn'? I, and most of my fellow norwegians, pronounce it the way it's written, with no real vowel between d and n, more of a nasal sound, I guess.. Is that wrong?
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: rappy on August 23, 2007, 11:41:26 AM
No, it's correct. Sorry, that was a bit confusing, I didn't know how to write that nasal sound in English.
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: Maciek on August 23, 2007, 12:39:10 PM
Quote from: Corey on August 20, 2007, 08:05:43 AM
How do you pronounce (...) Mieczysław
Quote from: quintett op.57 on August 20, 2007, 08:53:25 AM
M yeah chuh swav
Quote from: greg on August 20, 2007, 09:06:45 AM
i thought the y is pronounced more like the i in "igloo" instead of "uh"...

Both are rough approximations of the Polish y. (OTOH, Polish does not have the "uh" sound nor exactly the "i" from "igloo".) The i (as in it, pit, knit, sick etc. but especially: chip, chit and chisel) is closer to the ideal, at least to my ear. You can improve it by smiling wide when you say it.

So I'd go for (it's still rough):
m yeah CHISS suave

While I'm at it, may I mention the fact that Górecki is pronounced: goor-ETZ-key? (Mikołaj is the sequence of words: me, co, why).


Quintett, could you finally put my mind at rest about this:
Is Swann pronounced Swan or Svan?? (I always assumed the former?) :-[
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: M forever on August 23, 2007, 05:31:21 PM
Quote from: quintett op.57 on August 23, 2007, 07:52:59 AM
it should be silent but even the french pronounce it mistakely.

Isn't that because both names come from a region (forgot which one, but I read something about that a long time ago) in which people traditionally pronounced the -z at the end of names? I am trying hard to remember exactly what it was I read, but it was something like that. In any language, personal names don't necessarily follow correct contemporary spelling rules.

Quote from: Norseman on August 23, 2007, 10:03:21 AM
So do you guys actually say 'dEn'? I, and most of my fellow norwegians, pronounce it the way it's written, with no real vowel between d and n, more of a nasal sound, I guess.. Is that wrong?

Not really "dEn", but it is really hard to pronounce "dn" completely without some weak vowel showing up between them (like a very weak, e,i, or ü). So, it sometimes sounds like "Hayden" or "Haydin", but never really stressed like "Hay-dEn".
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: Larry Rinkel on August 23, 2007, 07:23:22 PM
Quote from: M forever on August 23, 2007, 05:31:21 PM
Isn't that because both names come from a region (forgot which one, but I read something about that a long time ago) in which people traditionally pronounced the -z at the end of names? I am trying hard to remember exactly what it was I read, but it was something like that. In any language, personal names don't necessarily follow correct contemporary spelling rules.

Right. Scroll down to the map:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Departments_of_France

Boulez was born in the Loire département (#42), and Berlioz in the adjacent Isère (#38). Anyhow, I've seen Boulez interviewed numerous times (but never Berlioz), and the Z is always pronounced when he is addressed or introduced.
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: M forever on August 23, 2007, 09:01:48 PM
That's like the name of the Italian fashion designer family Benetton which I always thought doesn't look "really Italian" because the e is missing at the end. The augmentative -one, just like the diminutive -ino (or the plural forms of both) are often found in Italian family names (e.g. "Toscanini", "the little Tuscans"). I thought "Benetton" is a modern varied form of "Benettone", maybe to make it look "more English", "more international". But no. I found out that the e-less ending -on is very common in the region of Veneto (NE Italy) where that family is from, in the spoken language as in written place and family names.
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: Mark on August 24, 2007, 02:30:06 PM
How might one pronounce 'Spohr'?
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: M forever on August 24, 2007, 06:20:50 PM
"Shpohr" with the soft sh at the beginning and a long o (just o, as German doesn't have as many diphtongs as English where o is often pronunced as o-a or o-u). A little like "before". The r at the end is often not really pronounced, definitely not rolled, it sounds like a very short u or a sound, it kind of sounds like "shpoha".
Title: Pronounce that Tune!
Post by: Erin on November 02, 2007, 07:55:46 PM
This isn't really a "name that tune" thread, but I thought it was similar enough to warrant going into this forum.  About the opera Genoveva by Robert Schumann -- How do you pronounce "Genoveva?"
Title: Re: Pronounce that Tune!
Post by: Renfield on November 02, 2007, 08:11:52 PM
I'd assume it's "Ge-no-VEE-va", in English: capital letters denote emphasis, with "ge" as in "gerrymandering", or "geranium"! :)
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: RebLem on November 03, 2007, 12:41:36 AM
I remember seeing Pierre Boulez on the old Dick Cavett Show once, and Cavett asked him how his surname was pronounced.  He said boo LEZ, with the boo just as in boo trying to scare some one, and the emphasis on the LEZ, pronounced as in the first syllable of lesbian.
Title: Re: Pronounce that Tune!
Post by: pjme on November 04, 2007, 03:32:58 AM
Quote from: Renfield on November 02, 2007, 08:11:52 PM
I'd assume it's "Ge-no-VEE-va", in English: capital letters denote emphasis, with "ge" as in "gerrymandering", or "geranium"! :)

in German ( and Dutch/Flemish) it is pronounced : geh - noh - veh - va - with the G as in "Get"

Peter
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: 12tone. on December 25, 2007, 01:00:57 PM
How do you pronounce:

-'Wiener', as in 'Wiener Philharmoniker'?

-'Chailly', as in the conductor?


As a side note, I think I heard on the radio Chailly pronounced 'Shy-Ee'.  Say 'Shy', then say the letter 'E' with no hard attack for the beginnging of 'E', but very soft.  Just run the two together.  Is that correct?
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: J.Z. Herrenberg on December 25, 2007, 01:18:45 PM
Wiener = WEE-ner (the 'w' doesn't contain an 'oo' sound; it's a 'thicker' v)

Chailly = shy-YEE
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: longears on December 25, 2007, 01:58:52 PM
Quote from: Jezetha on December 25, 2007, 01:18:45 PM
Wiener = WEE-ner (the 'w' doesn't contain an 'oo' sound; it's a 'thicker' v)
???

VEEner (but a soft, not hard, "r")
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: J.Z. Herrenberg on December 25, 2007, 02:03:10 PM
Quote from: longears on December 25, 2007, 01:58:52 PM
???

VEEner (but a soft, not hard, "r")

There is a slight 'oo' in the w - and the 'Wie' in Wiener doesn't sound the same as 'we' - it's like an unvoiced v...
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: pjme on December 25, 2007, 02:05:48 PM
It's not entirely clear to me either... But it is OK to pronounce the  W more as a V ...

But all Germans and Austrians will understand you when you just say WEE - ner Philharmoniker (- Cafe - Kuchen und Gebäck -Tafelspitz - Buchhandlung ...)
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: M forever on December 25, 2007, 02:06:36 PM
Why "a thicker v"? German w is basically the same as English v and it is always voiced. So "Wien" just sounds like "veen". Interestingly though, in the local Viennese dialect, the city's name is pronounced in a quite different way which is extremely hard to transcribe. It is not just the sounds, but the way it is said, very long drawn out (and you also have to make a really bored face when you say it because Viennese people always look extremely bored when they speak), and it sounds somehow like "vee-AHn" with ah as in father but more nasal. So the English name "Vienna" actually comes quite close to the local dialect.
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: longears on December 25, 2007, 02:14:23 PM
Quote from: Jezetha on December 25, 2007, 02:03:10 PM
There is a slight 'oo' in the w - and the 'Wie' in Wiener doesn't sound the same as 'we' - it's like an unvoiced v...
??? ???

Oh!  Maybe that's how you pronounce it in Delft...?
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: J.Z. Herrenberg on December 25, 2007, 02:20:36 PM
Quote from: longears on December 25, 2007, 02:14:23 PM
??? ???

Oh!  Maybe that's how you pronounce it in Delft...?

The Dutch w and the German w are pronounced in the same way...
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: M forever on December 25, 2007, 02:30:32 PM
Really? Nothing in Dutch and German is really pronounced quite the same way. Dutch sounds a lot like German but when you have a serious throat disease or some cheese stuck in your throat and nose (just messing with you, Jezetha  ;) ). Seriously though, in German when you say "Wien", there is no oo there. And the w *is* voiced.
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: longears on December 25, 2007, 02:33:07 PM
Quote from: Jezetha on December 25, 2007, 02:20:36 PM
The Dutch w and the German w are pronounced in the same way...
Ah...that explains part of it.  12tone is Canadian, so to explain to him you would point out that the German "w" is pronounced like an English "v."  I still don't get the "oo," however. 

"Dutch sounds like German spoken with a serious throat disease accompanied by some cheese stuck in your throat."  LOL!

Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: J.Z. Herrenberg on December 25, 2007, 02:41:29 PM
"Dutch sounds like German spoken with a serious throat disease accompanied by some cheese stuck in your throat."

Apt.  ;)

A Dutch writer once said - A Dutchman is simply a German who drinks milk.

As far as that 'oo' is concerned - isn't there in the w-sound, because of the roundedness of the lips, a slight 'oo'?
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: M forever on December 25, 2007, 02:46:23 PM
Quote from: longears on December 25, 2007, 02:33:07 PM
Ah...that explains part of it.  12tone is Canadian, so to explain to him you would point out that the German "w" is pronounced like an English "v." 

Unless 12tone is Franco-Canadian, then you would have to say that German w is pronounced like *French* v ... uh ... which is basically the same as English v, I guess. Actually, the use of w as a v sound in German is an abnormality, most languages use v as v (meaning v as in English) which is what the Roman letter v originally was. Dunno why German has the w instead, and v is sometimes pronounced like English v, sometimes like f.

BTW, "Chailly" sound more like sha-EE-yee with the last syllable rather weak though.

Quote from: Jezetha on December 25, 2007, 02:41:29 PM
A Dutch writer once said - A Dutchman is simply a German who drinks milk.

I don't get that. Germans drink milk, too. Explain the joke (if there is one).

Quote from: Jezetha on December 25, 2007, 02:41:29 PM
As far as that 'oo' is concerned - isn't there in the w-sound, because of the roundedness of the lips, a slight 'oo'?

I just tried it several times. There is really no oo.
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: J.Z. Herrenberg on December 25, 2007, 03:08:40 PM
"Explain the joke (if there is one)."

Well, to us milk is quintessentially Dutch - cows here have more space than humans do. There's more milk flowing through our veins than blood - it seems that the Dutch are generally so tall because of all the milk they drink. So when this Dutch writer says that 'a Dutchman is simply a German who drinks milk', he does two things: he connects the two countries (and remember: anti-German sentiment has been strong in the Netherlands ever since the war), implying that the Dutch and the Germans aren't all that different, AND he alludes to the fact that the Dutch connect Germans with beer, not milk (although the Dutch like their beer, too...).

I know the joke must have evaporated by now, but - here's your explanation...
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: Ten thumbs on December 25, 2007, 03:10:52 PM
Quote from: M forever on December 25, 2007, 02:46:23 PM
Unless 12tone is Franco-Canadian, then you would have to say that German w is pronounced like *French* v ... uh ... which is basically the same as English v, I guess. Actually, the use of w as a v sound in German is an abnormality, most languages use v as v (meaning v as in English) which is what the Roman letter v originally was. Dunno why German has the w instead, and v is sometimes pronounced like English v, sometimes like f.

The Roman letter v was originally our u, so w is actually a double v, as it appears in print. In Welsh a single f is pronounced as v, whereas a double ff is used for the softer f.
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: J.Z. Herrenberg on December 25, 2007, 03:14:53 PM
Now I know how to pronounce 'Myfanwy' correctly...
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: longears on December 26, 2007, 06:47:20 AM
Yes...but can you pronounce "Genir pawb yn rhydd ac yn gydradd â'i gilydd mewn urddas a hawliau. Fe'u cynysgaeddir â rheswm a chydwybod, a dylai pawb ymddwyn y naill at y llall mewn ysbryd cymodlon?"
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: J.Z. Herrenberg on December 26, 2007, 08:15:33 AM
Quote from: longears on December 26, 2007, 06:47:20 AM
Yes...but can you pronounce "Genir pawb yn rhydd ac yn gydradd â'i gilydd mewn urddas a hawliau. Fe'u cynysgaeddir â rheswm a chydwybod, a dylai pawb ymddwyn y naill at y llall mewn ysbryd cymodlon?"

Can you pronounce 'Dit vind ik vreselijk lastig om uit te spreken, vooral omdat ik niet weet wat de klankwaarde van alle klinkers en medeklinkers is'?

;)
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: longears on December 26, 2007, 08:34:47 AM
Is it like "Das find ich sehr schwer zu sprechen, usw," aber mit Milch im Mund?  As for the Welsh, I'm not sure even they know how to pronounce it!
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: J.Z. Herrenberg on December 26, 2007, 09:57:00 AM
"Is it like "Das find ich sehr schwer zu sprechen, usw," aber mit Milch im Mund?"

:)

But yes, translated into German it reads 'Das finde ich schrecklich schwierig auszusprechen, weil ich nicht weiss was der Klangwert der Vokale und Konsonante ist'...
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: longears on December 26, 2007, 10:21:58 AM
Just stuff a bunch of soda crackers into your mouth and you'll sound like a native speaker in no time!
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: Solitary Wanderer on December 05, 2008, 12:00:48 PM
Ok, is this correct:

Bayreuth = By-root

Tribschen = Tri-shen

Wahnfried = Van-freed

:)
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: Dancing Divertimentian on December 05, 2008, 05:11:05 PM
Quote from: Solitary Wanderer on December 05, 2008, 12:00:48 PM
Ok, is this correct:

Bayreuth = By-root

More like By-roit or By-roeet (if you're American, think Detroit).


Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: J.Z. Herrenberg on December 07, 2008, 05:20:04 AM
Quote from: Maciek on August 23, 2007, 12:39:10 PM
Both are rough approximations of the Polish y. (OTOH, Polish does not have the "uh" sound nor exactly the "i" from "igloo".) The i (as in it, pit, knit, sick etc. but especially: chip, chit and chisel) is closer to the ideal, at least to my ear. You can improve it by smiling wide when you say it.

So I'd go for (it's still rough):
m yeah CHISS suave

While I'm at it, may I mention the fact that Górecki is pronounced: goor-ETZ-key? (Mikołaj is the sequence of words: me, co, why).


Quintett, could you finally put my mind at rest about this:
Is Swann pronounced Swan or Svan?? (I always assumed the former?) :-[

Maciek, I thought that the "Mie" in Mieczyslaw sounds like the French "mien" (ergo: nasal)...
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: J.Z. Herrenberg on December 07, 2008, 05:21:09 AM
Quote from: Solitary Wanderer on December 05, 2008, 12:00:48 PM
Ok, is this correct:

Bayreuth = By-root

Tribschen = Tri-shen

Wahnfried = Van-freed

:)

Byroit (indeed, Donwyn)

Treepshen (rolling r)

Wahn rhymes with Khan
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: zamyrabyrd on December 27, 2008, 06:01:20 AM
Maybe someone can explain why some Germans (at least the ones in my circle) have a habit of pronouncing v's like w's, as wery, instead of very. After all, v is no problem for them.
Also one woman in particular used to say the j's as ch's.

ZB
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: karlhenning on December 27, 2008, 06:59:46 AM
Quote from: Jezetha on December 07, 2008, 05:21:09 AM
Byroit (indeed, Donwyn)

Not "Beirut"? . . .
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: rappy on December 27, 2008, 07:17:04 AM
Byroit is correct.

@zanyrabyrd: what exactly is the difference between very and wery?
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: Mr. Darcy on December 27, 2008, 09:29:34 AM
How about Kaija Saarhiaho?

Sofia Gubaidulina?

Karita Mattila?

Thanks!
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: Brünnhilde forever on December 27, 2008, 12:59:56 PM
Quote from: zamyrabyrd on December 27, 2008, 06:01:20 AM
Maybe someone can explain why some Germans (at least the ones in my circle) have a habit of pronouncing v's like w's, as wery, instead of very. After all, v is no problem for them.
Also one woman in particular used to say the j's as ch's.

ZB

Have you ever thought that this is the way those certain letters are pronounced in their native language?  ???
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: Kullervo on December 27, 2008, 04:44:44 PM
Quote from: Mr. Darcy on December 27, 2008, 09:29:34 AM
How about Kaija Saarhiaho?
Karita Mattila?

Thanks!

Kaee (as in "kite" or "hi")-ya Saah-ri-aho

The "aa" is slightly drawn out and the "r" is rolled.

Kah-reeta Maht-tillah

There should be a slight break between the two Ts in Mattila.

(Correct me if I'm wrong :D)
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: zamyrabyrd on December 27, 2008, 07:07:54 PM
Quote from: Brünnhilde forever on December 27, 2008, 12:59:56 PM
Have you ever thought that this is the way those certain letters are pronounced in their native language?  ???

Sure, v is usually pronounced like an f, (verboten), unless it is from a foreign word like "vase", that I assume would not be pronounced like wase. And j is said like a y, as in the coming month, "Yanuar".

ZB
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: zamyrabyrd on December 27, 2008, 07:12:04 PM
Quote from: rappy on December 27, 2008, 07:17:04 AM
Byroit is correct.

@zamyrabyrd: what exactly is the difference between very and wery?

Not wery much, wappy...
(echoes of Elmer Fudd: "Oh you CWAZY WABBIT!!")
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: Mr. Darcy on December 31, 2008, 05:42:18 PM
Gubaidulina?

Goo-by-doo-leena?
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: Brünnhilde forever on December 31, 2008, 08:17:41 PM
You got it! Perfect!  8)
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: Guido on January 01, 2009, 01:48:51 AM
What about Moeran?
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: J.Z. Herrenberg on January 01, 2009, 01:25:23 PM
Quote from: Guido on January 01, 2009, 01:48:51 AM
What about Moeran?

Moer sounds like more.
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: greg on January 01, 2009, 08:15:50 PM
Scelsi- Sellsea, Chelsea or Seltzer Water?
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: J.Z. Herrenberg on January 02, 2009, 12:06:52 AM
Quote from: G$ on January 01, 2009, 08:15:50 PM
Scelsi- Sellsea, Chelsea or Seltzer Water?

;D

None of those. It's Shelsi...
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: Diletante on January 02, 2009, 05:21:24 AM
Scelsi sells seashells...
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: Kullervo on January 02, 2009, 05:42:10 AM
Quote from: Jezetha on January 02, 2009, 12:06:52 AM
;D

None of those. It's Shelsi...

One of my favorite composer names to say out loud: Ja-keen-to Shel-see

I'm also fond of Gee-yahm Doo-fey and Vitt-oldt Lu-to-swaff-ski :D
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: vandermolen on January 02, 2009, 03:36:51 PM
And don't forget that the 'Ralph' in Vaughan Williams's name is pronounced 'Rafe', as is the case with the actor Ralph Fiennes.
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: Renfield on January 02, 2009, 03:49:01 PM
Quote from: vandermolen on January 02, 2009, 03:36:51 PM
And don't forget that the 'Ralph' in Vaughan Williams's name is pronounced 'Rafe', as is the case with the actor Ralph Fiennes.

And the Vaughan pronounced "Vaughn", like the (rather lower-calibre) actor Vince Vaughn.


Completely off-topic, but it just struck me: is Joseph Fiennes related to Ralph? :o
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: Kullervo on January 02, 2009, 07:44:59 PM
Quote from: Renfield on January 02, 2009, 03:49:01 PM
And the Vaughan pronounced "Vaughn", like the (rather lower-calibre) actor Vince Vaughn.


Completely off-topic, but it just struck me: is Joseph Fiennes related to Ralph? :o

They're brothers, IIRC. Ralph is the better actor IMO.
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: Renfield on January 03, 2009, 05:15:15 AM
Quote from: Corey on January 02, 2009, 07:44:59 PM
Ralph is the better actor IMO.

By far! Thanks, the question just hit me, and I felt like asking instead of looking it up, for a change. :)
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: imperfection on January 04, 2009, 10:09:36 AM
Is Strauss "strows"? (the trow part rhymes with "cow")
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: J.Z. Herrenberg on January 04, 2009, 11:43:56 AM
Quote from: imperfection on January 04, 2009, 10:09:36 AM
Is Strauss "strows"? (the trow part rhymes with "cow")

Yes.
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: Novi on January 04, 2009, 12:47:29 PM
Most people I'm sure do a competently teutonic W/Vagner.

But do you also pronounce 'Richard' in a German way ??? ?
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: J.Z. Herrenberg on January 04, 2009, 01:35:40 PM
Quote from: Novi on January 04, 2009, 12:47:29 PM
Most people I'm sure do a competently teutonic W/Vagner.

But do you also pronounce 'Richard' in a German way ??? ?

It's a bit pedantic to pronounce Richard in the German way when you're not German. Although I can (being Dutch, and Dutch being a sister language of German), I never do. I pronounce Richard in the Dutch way (sounds like Reeshart, short ee, short art), with audible r's...)
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: imperfection on January 04, 2009, 01:42:54 PM
Thanks, Jezetha. Here's another one: how do you say Haas as in Robert Haas? Haas is actually my music teacher's last name, but he told us to say it with an American English pronunciation: Haws (rhymes with Jaws). I'm sure that's not the way you would pronounce it in German, right? He's German Canadian btw.
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: J.Z. Herrenberg on January 04, 2009, 03:00:29 PM
Quote from: imperfection on January 04, 2009, 01:42:54 PM
Thanks, Jezetha. Here's another one: how do you say Haas as in Robert Haas? Haas is actually my music teacher's last name, but he told us to say it with an American English pronunciation: Haws (rhymes with Jaws). I'm sure that's not the way you would pronounce it in German, right? He's German Canadian btw.

Haas rhymes with (British) pass (long a). Or think of the Tibetan capital Lhasa...
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: Brünnhilde forever on January 04, 2009, 04:25:20 PM
Quote from: Jezetha on January 04, 2009, 01:35:40 PM
I pronounce Richard in the Dutch way (sounds like Reeshart, short ee, short art), with audible r's...)

But Jezetha, where did the s come from in your pronunciation of Richard? I know there is no English equivalent for the German ch, I am sure you can come up with a solution to this one!

Ich verlasse mich auf Dich!  ;D
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: Renfield on January 04, 2009, 04:42:37 PM
I pronounce Richard "Ree-(c)hard", in approximation of what I think is the German pronunciation. Correct me if I'm wrong!

Generally, if I can approximate the proper pronunciation of non-English words, I prefer it to viciously anglicizing them; unless it's beyond my phonological means. I even go as far as to pronounce "proviso" as "pro-vee-zo", versus "pro-vie-zo", and so on (which is technically mistaken).


Incidentally, it struck me the other day that I'm unsure how many are aware of Xenakis being actually pronounced "Ksenakis", versus "Zenakis". (The italic "a" indicating where the word is intoned, as above.)
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: Brünnhilde forever on January 04, 2009, 05:21:56 PM
You are as close to the correct 'Richard' as most people usually get, unless they speak Arabic! That is where you find the throat-clearing ch. I think Hebrew also has the ch as in La Chaim. My apology to any Hebrew speaker here if I am mistaken!

Proviso is 'proveeso' - Latin! - not as I have heard it pronounced 'provaiso'.  ::)


Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: Renfield on January 04, 2009, 06:12:17 PM
Quote from: Brünnhilde forever on January 04, 2009, 05:21:56 PM
You are as close to the correct 'Richard' as most people usually get, unless they speak Arabic! That is where you find the throat-clearing ch. I think Hebrew also has the ch as in La Chaim. My apology to any Hebrew speaker here if I am mistaken!

Proviso is 'proveeso' - Latin! - not as I have heard it pronounced 'provaiso'.  ::)

Ah, good to hear. Thank you. :)

As for "proviso", I do think "provaiso" is an acceptable pronunciation in English-speaking contests, but I personally use it no more than I use "pryema fayshie" - that is, never. Still, you're right about the stress, it probably has to be on the "i". Cato? 8)
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: J.Z. Herrenberg on January 04, 2009, 10:03:27 PM
Quote from: Brünnhilde forever on January 04, 2009, 04:25:20 PM
But Jezetha, where did the s come from in your pronunciation of Richard? I know there is no English equivalent for the German ch, I am sure you can come up with a solution to this one!

Ich verlasse mich auf Dich!  ;D

Weiss ich doch, du kühne Maid...  ;)

The Dutch pronounce Richard with a French ch... As I said, I know how to pronounce Richard the German way (and remember - the Dutch language is one of the most guttural, next to Hebrew and Arabic!), but it sounds too pedantic to my fellow Dutchmen, so I make a concession there...
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: Novi on January 05, 2009, 05:48:19 AM
Quote from: Jezetha on January 04, 2009, 01:35:40 PM
It's a bit pedantic to pronounce Richard in the German way when you're not German. Although I can (being Dutch, and Dutch being a sister language of German), I never do. I pronounce Richard in the Dutch way (sounds like Reeshart, short ee, short art), with audible r's...)

Cool - thanks! It was only recently that I heard the 'guttural' pronunciation of Richard, and thought, oh bugger, have I been doing it wrong all these years ??? :P.


Quote from: Renfield on January 04, 2009, 04:42:37 PM
Incidentally, it struck me the other day that I'm unsure how many are aware of Xenakis being actually pronounced "Ksenakis", versus "Zenakis". (The italic "a" indicating where the word is intoned, as above.)

Thanks for that, Renfield. A timely post, given that I've recently acquired my first Xenakis disk and had no idea how to pronounce the name :).

Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: rappy on January 05, 2009, 06:17:45 AM
Quote from: Renfield on January 04, 2009, 04:42:37 PM
I pronounce Richard "Ree-(c)hard", in approximation of what I think is the German pronunciation. Correct me if I'm wrong!

The i should be as short as in to rip. "Chard" sounds similiar to "chart", but don't pronounce ch like t-ch.
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: marvinbrown on January 05, 2009, 02:06:32 PM
Quote from: Renfield on January 04, 2009, 04:42:37 PM
I pronounce Richard "Ree-(c)hard", in approximation of what I think is the German pronunciation. Correct me if I'm wrong!



  You can pronounce Richard any which way you wish....just make sure that the next word out of your mouth is WAGNER  0:) 0:) 0:)............. ;)!

  With regards to the pronunciation of Wagner I have seen 2 variations: (VOGNER I read this somewhere not sure where??) or (VAHGNER) I wonder if our German speaking GMG members can clarify this further??

  marvin 
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: Solitary Wanderer on January 05, 2009, 02:16:47 PM
Ok, here's two:

Marie d'Agoult = Marie D'go

Winterreise = Vinter-ry-see

???
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: Kullervo on January 05, 2009, 02:31:22 PM
Quote from: Solitary Wanderer on January 05, 2009, 02:16:47 PM
Winterreise = Vinter-ry-see

I've always said "Vinter-rai-zuh".
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: pjme on January 05, 2009, 02:40:06 PM
Quote from: Solitary Wanderer on January 05, 2009, 02:16:47 PM
Ok, here's two:

Marie d'Agoult = Marie D'go

Winterreise = Vinter-ry-see

???

In this case you can really say : Marie Dagoolt

and Corey is correct with Vinter -raih-zuh   ( even if not all Germans will pronounce that W really sharply as a V...)
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: J.Z. Herrenberg on January 05, 2009, 03:44:55 PM
Quote from: marvinbrown on January 05, 2009, 02:06:32 PM
  You can pronounce Richard any which way you wish....just make sure that the next word out of your mouth is WAGNER  0:) 0:) 0:)............. ;)!

  With regards to the pronunciation of Wagner I have seen 2 variations: (VOGNER I read this somewhere not sure where??) or (VAHGNER) I wonder if our German speaking GMG members can clarify this further??

  marvin 

VAHGNER is correct.

But I once saw a documentary about Wagner, where a Swiss lady showed the filmmaker around in Wagner's house in Triebschen. She spoke with a strong accent, and talked about '(der) Wockner'...
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: Gurn Blanston on January 05, 2009, 04:34:45 PM
Of all European languages, Dutch is my stumbler. So please:

Kujiken

for starters... :)

My guess is KUY-kin, but I suspect I am not even close. :-\

8)

----------------
Listening to:
Geminiani Opus3 - Baroque Orchestra of Montreal - Geminiani Concerto grosso #2 in g Op 3 3rd mvmt
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: zamyrabyrd on January 05, 2009, 04:52:45 PM
Quote from: Renfield on January 04, 2009, 04:42:37 PM

Generally, if I can approximate the proper pronunciation of non-English words, I prefer it to viciously anglicizing them; unless it's beyond my phonological means. I even go as far as to pronounce "proviso" as "pro-vee-zo", versus "pro-vie-zo", and so on (which is technically mistaken).


I find myself doing the same, striding the middle between a pedantic pronunciation and blatantly Anglicizing everything. Example: "Symphonie Fantastique" said with English vowels rather than the two nasals in the beginnings of both words. "Fantastic Symphony" doesn't cut it. Also Italian words repeatedly used in music--coloratura, allegro, etc. sound funny or rather out of place when an effort is made to switch back and forth from language to another.
I wonder what non-English speakers do...

ZB
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: imperfection on January 05, 2009, 09:00:00 PM
Quote from: marvinbrown on January 05, 2009, 02:06:32 PM
  You can pronounce Richard any which way you wish....just make sure that the next word out of your mouth is WAGNER  0:) 0:) 0:)............. ;)!

  With regards to the pronunciation of Wagner I have seen 2 variations: (VOGNER I read this somewhere not sure where??) or (VAHGNER) I wonder if our German speaking GMG members can clarify this further??

  marvin 

When you say Wagner, you're also not supposed to roll your tongue on the "r", as they do when Americans/Canadians pronounce almost everything with an -er ending. Therefore, instead of "vAHgnur", Wagner should sound like "vAHgnah". The capitalized letters indicate the stressed syllable.  :)
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: J.Z. Herrenberg on January 05, 2009, 10:05:32 PM
Quote from: Gurn Blanston on January 05, 2009, 04:34:45 PM
Of all European languages, Dutch is my stumbler. So please:

Kujiken

for starters... :)

My guess is KUY-kin, but I suspect I am not even close. :-\

8)

----------------
Listening to:
Geminiani Opus3 - Baroque Orchestra of Montreal - Geminiani Concerto grosso #2 in g Op 3 3rd mvmt

It's KUIJKEN, btw... The UI(J) sounds the same as the French in l'oeuil, if you know that. It's a sound only the French and the Dutch seem to have in common. The KEN part is easy - it rhymes with 'an'...
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: zamyrabyrd on January 05, 2009, 10:43:06 PM
Quote from: imperfection on January 05, 2009, 09:00:00 PM
When you say Wagner, you're also not supposed to roll your tongue on the "r", as they do when Americans/Canadians pronounce almost everything with an -er ending. Therefore, instead of "vAHgnur", Wagner should sound like "vAHgnah". The capitalized letters indicate the stressed syllable.  :)

The last time I checked, Germans pronounce the final "r". This is not as abovementioned trilled "r" as in Italian but more gutteral as in French, a bit further front. Also, I hear that the "r" differs in according to area as Swiss, Western Germany (closer to France) and Austrian.  Maybe someone can illuminate.   ??? 
Come to think of it, I knew a German speaker who used to drop final r's, hmmn....

ZB
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: J.Z. Herrenberg on January 05, 2009, 11:03:27 PM
Quote from: zamyrabyrd on January 05, 2009, 10:43:06 PM
The last time I checked, Germans pronounce the final "r". This is not as abovementioned trilled "r" as in Italian but more gutteral as in French, a bit further front. Also, I hear that the "r" differs in according to area as Swiss, Western Germany (closer to France) and Austrian.  Maybe someone can illuminate.   ??? 
Come to think of it, I knew a German speaker who used to drop final r's, hmmn....

ZB

'High German' speakers drop the final r. But let the native Germans here comment...
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: rappy on January 06, 2009, 12:49:30 AM
QuoteWhen you say Wagner, you're also not supposed to roll your tongue on the "r", as they do when Americans/Canadians pronounce almost everything with an -er ending. Therefore, instead of "vAHgnur", Wagner should sound like "vAHgnah". The capitalized letters indicate the stressed syllable.

This is important and correct.
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: Brünnhilde forever on January 06, 2009, 06:56:02 AM
AH! But there is the multitude of native Germans suffering from a very common speech impediment:

We can not pronounce the letter r at all! I say 'we' because my brother and I are one of those! For me, the letter is simply a noise way back in the throat. For consolation, this 'noise' is the way the Danish people pronounce their r! There is justice after all!  ;D

Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: zamyrabyrd on January 06, 2009, 08:56:48 PM
Quote from: Brünnhilde forever on January 06, 2009, 06:56:02 AM
AH! But there is the multitude of native Germans suffering from a very common speech impediment:

We can not pronounce the letter r at all! I say 'we' because my brother and I are one of those! For me, the letter is simply a noise way back in the throat. For consolation, this 'noise' is the way the Danish people pronounce their r! There is justice after all!  ;D

In singing, final r's in German are pronounced, so this might be cause for confusion. Any rumble in the back of the throat (as with French r's as well) need to come forward.

ZB
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: Dancing Divertimentian on January 07, 2009, 05:39:31 PM
How about Herreweghe?


Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: J.Z. Herrenberg on January 07, 2009, 11:38:42 PM
Quote from: donwyn on January 07, 2009, 05:39:31 PM
How about Herreweghe?

Tricky.

But it sounds like HAIRawayghe, with the 'gh' like the ch in Loch Ness. That HAIRa bit is short and clipped.
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: Brünnhilde forever on January 08, 2009, 10:07:13 AM
Tricky indeed! Thank you.  :-*

I don't dare to ask how one is supposed to voice the name of your Amsterdam airport  - has nothing to do with music!  ::)
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: J.Z. Herrenberg on January 08, 2009, 12:03:52 PM
Quote from: Brünnhilde forever on January 08, 2009, 10:07:13 AM
Tricky indeed! Thank you.  :-*

I don't dare to ask how one is supposed to voice the name of your Amsterdam airport  - has nothing to do with music!  ::)

Easy.  ;) Schiphol is literally 'ship's hole', because of the many ships that foundered there (before the 17th century reclaimed it). Schip has the same ch as in Loch Ness. And hol rhymes with trawl, but shorter.

O, and it's accented on the second syllable.
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: Dancing Divertimentian on January 08, 2009, 07:49:04 PM
Quote from: Jezetha on January 07, 2009, 11:38:42 PM
Tricky.

But it sounds like HAIRawayghe, with the 'gh' like the ch in Loch Ness. That HAIRa bit is short and clipped.

Thanks, Jezetha.

Tricky indeed.


Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: Brünnhilde forever on January 09, 2009, 06:40:54 AM
Thanks, Jezetha!  :-*

Whenever there is sch in a Dutch word, I assume it is safe to drop the s and pronounce the ch as in Loch Ness, hopefully none of those annoying exceptions!  ::)
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: karlhenning on January 09, 2009, 06:45:01 AM
Vagn Holmboe?
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: karlhenning on January 09, 2009, 06:46:03 AM
Quote from: Brünnhilde forever on January 09, 2009, 06:40:54 AM
Thanks, Jezetha!  :-*

Whenever there is sch in a Dutch word, I assume it is safe to drop the s and pronounce the ch as in Loch Ness, hopefully none of those annoying exceptions!  ::)

Should the s be dropped, really?
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: J.Z. Herrenberg on January 09, 2009, 06:51:16 AM
Quote from: Brünnhilde forever on January 09, 2009, 06:40:54 AM
Thanks, Jezetha!  :-*

Whenever there is sch in a Dutch word, I assume it is safe to drop the s and pronounce the ch as in Loch Ness, hopefully none of those annoying exceptions!  ::)

NO! Sch is a combination of an s + ch. So 'schip' sounds like ship but with an added guttural...
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: karlhenning on January 09, 2009, 06:51:46 AM
That's how I had understood you, thanks, Johan!

(Separately: delighted that you like Timbrel & Dance!)
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: J.Z. Herrenberg on January 09, 2009, 06:52:56 AM
Quote from: karlhenning on January 09, 2009, 06:45:01 AM
Vagn Holmboe?

Vagn rhymes with town. Holm is short (you pronounce the l, so it doesn't rhyme with home). And the 'boe' part is like a short boo.
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: karlhenning on January 09, 2009, 06:56:10 AM
Quote from: Jezetha on January 09, 2009, 06:52:56 AM
Vagn rhymes with town. Holm is short (you pronounce the l, so it doesn't rhyme with home). And the 'boe' part is like a short boo.

Dank je wel!
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: Bunny on January 12, 2009, 07:04:02 AM
Quote from: Brünnhilde forever on December 27, 2008, 12:59:56 PM
Have you ever thought that this is the way those certain letters are pronounced in their native language?  ???

The last time I looked, the v in German was pronounced as an f is in English.  None of the Germans of my acquaintance pronounce the v as a w, although a few Russians do.
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: Brünnhilde forever on January 17, 2009, 06:05:45 PM
Quote from: Bunny on January 12, 2009, 07:04:02 AM
None of the Germans of my acquaintance pronounce the v as a w

They all probadly speak Yidd, not German.
Title: Re: how to pronounce...
Post by: Bunny on March 08, 2009, 10:02:04 AM
Quote from: Brünnhilde forever on January 17, 2009, 06:05:45 PM
They all probadly speak Yidd, not German.

No, they don't speak Yidd, which is properly termed Yiddish in English.  They are not Jewish, so why would they speak Yiddish?  They are ordinary, English speaking Germans, one of whom teaches German on the university level.  Just listen to Heidi Klum on tv calling a Volkswagen a "folksvahgen."  In Belgium a w may be pronounced as it is in England, but I assure you a W in England is not the same as a W in Germany.  A V in Germany is not the hard V that it is in England.  It is a softer, unaspirated "f" sound.  For that matter a V in Spain is not the same as a V in France; it is closer to an unaspirated B. 

You probably just don't have hearing that is acute enough to hear the differences, which probably means that you have an execrable accent in any language other than your native one.